Cupola bucket



Patented June 17, 1930 sate "r FFEQ OSCAR I1. COFFEY, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WHITING- CORPORATION, OF

HARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS v CUPOLA BUCKET Application filed June 8, 1828. Serial No.'283,887.

My invention relates to cupola buckets.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and advantageous construction of cupola bucket. 1

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the ready opening and closing of the bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of cupola bucket which can be readily introduced into the cupola and dumped and then removed. 7

Another object of the invention is to permit the contents of the bucket to be distributed evenly when dumped, so as not to heap the material up in spots at the bottom of the cupola. i

Another object of the invention is to shorten the height of the bucket, so as to facilitate its passageinto and out of the cupola.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partially in elevation and partially in vertical section of a part of a cupola and a closed cupola bucket embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is asimilar View with the bucket open; 7 I

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the bucket partly open and partly closed;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the support for the bucket; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the bucket itself on line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, I show the lower portion of a cupola 1 having a side opening or mouth 2 and a lower portion 3 which contains the fuel and ore.

I also show a bucket 4 arranged in position in the cupola. In Fig. 1 the bucket is shown in a closed condition just inserted into the cupola. In Fig. 2 the bucket is shown opened so that the contents may drop and be discharged into the bottom of the cupola. In Fig. 3 the bucket is shown partially closed ready to be again removed from the cupola.

The bucket preferably comprises a more or less cylindric body portion 6 and a bottom comprising a pair of swinging leaves 7, 7, each of which is substantially one-half of the area of the bucket body and both of which are pivoted on a cross member or pivot 8, the ends of which may be supported by the bucket body 6.

The leaves or bottom sections 7, 7 are prefably connected with the lower ends of a pair of operating members 9, 9 as by pivots 10,10 and the upper ends of these ends 9, 9are preferably connected together in a pivotal manner and provided with apertures through which a hook 12 may be passed, Thus the leaves or bottom sections 7 7 maybe opened and closed by the operating rods or mem: bers 9, 9. 1

In order to allow. free movement ofthe rods 9, 9 and to prevent interference with the con-- tents of the bucket, side chambers 14, 14 are preferably provided for said members 9, 9. These chambers 14, 14 may conveniently be formed by side walls or partitions 15, 15 which may be secured to the wall of the bucket body 6, as shownin Fig. 5. Preferably the bucket has a centralpartition 16.

The bucket described is especially adapted, for use in connection with a cupola charging apparatus by which the bucket'may be introduced into the cupola through the mouth or opening 2 and then emptied and then withdrawn. While various forms of charging mechanism may be used, I show a well known 7 form having a supporting beam 17 carrying a roll or sheave 18 over which chains 19'are extended, the chains 19 having hooks 12 formerly mentioned for engaging the upper ends of the pairs of operatingmembers 9, 9. Furthermore, the bucket" herein disclosed is especially adapted for use in connection with a bucket support for holding the bucket body in position to permit the bucket to be dumped or emptied. V 7 \Vhile various forms of bucket supports could be used, I show herein a bucket sup-port having special and peculiar advantages, which bucket support, however, is the subject matterof an application of Clement A. Hardy, executed of even date herewith. This bucket support comprises a member 21 (Fig. 4), shaped more or less like a wish bone and having side portions 22, 22 provided with out wardly flaring end portions-23, 23flocated" at opposite sides of the mouth 2 of the cupola.

Said members 22 are connected at the rear end or back of the cupola and united to form a single member or portion 2 1 which projects backwardly through an opening in the back of the cupola. Thus the device 21 may be supported at its front and back ends by the cupola wall.

Y The members 22 are spaced sufiiciently apart to readily accommodate the bucket body 6 but are sufficiently close together to be engaged byflange 25 at the upper edge of the bucket body. Thus, when the bucket is moved into the cupola its body portion will pass readily between the side members 22 of the support 21 and when said bucket is lowered, if its position permits or requires lowering, the bucket will descend until its flange 25 engages theside and back 01": support 21, at which time the descent of the bucket will stop but further releasing of the chains 19 will allow the members 9, 9 to descend and thereby permit the bottom sections or leaves '7, 7 to swing downwardly thereby opening the bucket and permitting its contents to drop. After the bucket is emptied the chains 19 may again be drawn so as to cause the bottom sections 7, 7 to swing upwardly and close the bottom of the bucket and then further actuation of the chains 19 will lift the bucket from the support 21 after which the bucket may be withdrawn from the cupola by operation of the charging apparatus.

It will be seen that the bucket may be readily introduced into the cupola and emptied and withdrawn, and also that the emptying may, if desired, be done very quickly so as to permit practically all of the contents of the bucket to be discharged at once, thereby causing such contents to be more or less evenly distributed at the bottom of the cupola and not heaped or humped up in various spots; Furthermore, the bucket may be made as short from top to bottom as desired, thereby facilitating movement of the bucket into and out of the cupola. The central partition 16 will assist in an even discharge and distribution of the contents of the bucket.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without depart- .ing from the spirit of the invention.

connected tothe swinging bottom members and extended upwardly in said partitions and pivotally connected with one another at their upper ends, said rods adapted to support the bucket and to operate the said swinging bottom members.

3. A cupola bucket provided with a pair of swinging bottom members in combination with two pairs of rods whose lower ends are connected to the opposite ends of the swinging members and whose upper ends are pivotally connected together, said bucket being provided with side partitions or walls forming side chambers in which said rods are located, said rods adapted to support the bucket and to operate the said swinging bottom members.

4. A cupola bucket provided with a pair of swinging bottom members in combination with two pairs of operating rods whose lower ends are connected pivotally to the opposite ends of said swinging members and whose upper ends are pivotally connected with supporting means, said bucket being provided with a transverse central partition.

5. A cupola bucket provided with a pair of swinging bottom members in combination with two pairs of operating rods whose lower ends are connected pivotally to the opposite ends of said swinging members and whose upper ends are pivot-ally connected with supporting means, said bucket being provided with a. transverse central partition, and said swinging bottom members being pivotally connected at the lower end of said partition.

6. A cupola bucket having a swinging bottom member, and means for operating said member, said means being also adapted to support the bucket when in transit, and means attached to the cupola. for supporting the bucket while it is being'dumped. f

7. A cupola bucket provided with a pair of swinging bottom members in combination with a pair of operating members extending upwardly from said bottom members and having their lower ends pivotaily connected with the bottom members and their upper ends pivotally connected to one another, and means on the bucket arranged to engage bucket-supporting-means which are stationarily attached to the cupola to be served.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of May, A. D. 1928.

, OSCAR L. COFFEY. 

